Smart-material based energy harvesting

Scope

This activity aims to explore the performance limits and features of electrostatic energy harvesters based on electroactive polymer (EAP) materials, and investigate application directions. Attention will be especially set on possible applications of EAPs in large-scale wave energy harvesting.

Expected Outcomes

Proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of EAP harvesters
Numerical investigation and feasibility analysis of large-scale wave energy harvesters

Publications and Patents

Publication (jour.): Hoffmann, M. K., Heib, L., Moretti, G., Rizzello, G., & Flaßkamp, K. (2023). Optimal operation of dielectric elastomer wave energy converters under harmonic and stochastic excitation. GAMM‐Mitteilungen, 46(2), e202300010.
Publication (conf.): Hoffmann, M. K., Heib, L., Rizzello, G., Moretti, G., & Flaßkamp, K. (2023). Multi-Objective Model-Predictive Control for Dielectric Elastomer Wave Harvesters. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 56(2), 7802-7807.
Publication (conf.): Heib, L., Moretti, G., & Rizzello, G. (2025, May). Maximizing power generation of bi-stable electrostatic energy harvesters in river flow scenarios. In Electroactive Polymer Actuators, Sensors, and Devices (EAPAD) 2025 (Vol. 13431, pp. 217-233). SPIE.
Publication (conf.): Heib, L., Rizzello, G., & Moretti, G. (2025, July). Simulation study of bi-stable sea wave energy harvesters with electrostatic power take-off. In 2025 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
Publication (jour.): Caselli, M., Carloni, A., Cherubini, A., Moretti, G., Fontana, M., & Vertechy, R. (2025). Submerged Stadium-Shaped Pressure Differential Dielectric Elastomer Generator for Wave Energy Conversion. IEEE Access, 13, 197912-197925.
Publication (jour.): Jalaliankhakshour, A., Rizzello, G., Cherubini, A., Fontana, M., & Moretti, G. (2025). Current‐Limiting Control Strategies in Variable Capacitance Electrostatic Energy Harvesters. Advanced Intelligent Systems, e202500985.
Thesis: M. M. Pranzo, DESIGN OF A WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER BASED ON DIELECTRIC FLUID GENERATORS (2024)

Personnel

Reference person: Giacomo Moretti
DII members: Alireza Jalaliankhakshour (PhD student)
External collaborators: Matthias Hoffmann (Uni. Saarland), Lennar Hib (Uni. Saarland), Kathrin Flaßkamp (Uni. Saarland), Gianluca Rizzello (Uni. Saarland), Marco Fontana (Sant'Anna Pisa), Rocco Vertechy (Uni. Bologna)
Alumni: Massimiliano Marco Pranzo (MSc student)

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